Sept VS Oct in the NW

Okay, guys I really need your help. I%26#39;ve always wanted to see the Pacific NW, and now I%26#39;ve run across some good airfare deals and need to commit. We would be flying into Seattle for an 11 night/12 day tour of Washington/Oregon. While we will see some of the parks in WA like Olympic and Rainier, most of the trip is in Oregon...several nights in Portland and several on the coast. Maybe Crater Lake. So, the question is....?

We are leaving for the NW on either Sept 8 (thru Sept 19) or Oct 1st (thru Oct 12). Which time frame has the better fall foilage...which time typically has the better weather? What about crowds and hotel rates for the comparative periods? Is Crater even accessible in Oct. since snow could disrupt those plans?

Thanks in advance for your responses?

Sept VS Oct in the NW

Foliage better Oct 1-12 though hard to tell when they will start mid-Oct is good bet. they begin to turn as rhe weather turns down

Weather probably better in Sept, but Oct can be good too, though nights will be chillier. hard to tell when and if it will rain. snow can come in Oct to Crater lake area and other high elevation places

I thought we have some good colors here and we do, but then we went to New Hampshire, and nearby. Do not expect that here.

Sept VS Oct in the NW

First, I suggest you decide if you *really* want to see Crater Lake? It%26#39;s a long way down to the southern part of the state, and will take time to get there and back. There will not be any boat rides after Sept 15th, and to be honest, other than hiking and ooh-ahhing at the lake, there is not much to do.

Crater Lake becomes important in that if you do want to go there, you%26#39;ll probably need to go on your earlier date. We never know for sure when winter starts!

Crowds along the coast will be slightly less in Oct, but you will have a greater chance of rain. Sept is one of the two the driest months of the year, but Oct usually isn%26#39;t too bad. Rates often go down Sept 30th.

So where did you find your good airfare deals if you don%26#39;t mind be asking? Maybe we%26#39;ll think about visiting Georgia this fall ;-)

Construction project manager friends of mine plan for the rains to set in around the middle of October, and I think statistical data backs them up, so I%26#39;d schedule the trip for September, which is usually one of our best weather months. Because of that though, it%26#39;s also still ';high season';, particularly on the coast, so expect to pay more for lodging.

Also, I think I%26#39;m agreeing with phirl in recommending that you not plan your trip around fall foliage. We had a long summer last year, and fall colors were better than I can ever remember, but odds are that we won%26#39;t be so lucky this year. Besides, the coast, Columbia River Gorge, and Crater Lake are all better reasons to visit Oregon.

I would vote for September. You are more likely to have pleasant weather that time of the year, and some of the summer crowds will have thinned out.

If you do plan on making the trip down to Crater Lake, most of us around here recommend spending some time in Bend. There is quite a bit to do around there, and it is a much easier drive on to Crater Lake. Keep in mind, even if it isn%26#39;t snowing, but some inclement weather does come in, it would not be worth the drive all the way down, as the lake will likely be fogged in.

nps.gov/crla/planyourvisit/things2know.htm

I, too, would vote for your September dates. While good weather often continues into October, the daylight hours are getting shorter.

Your chances of getting a good clear day to drive to Mt. St. Helens are better in September.

Fall foliage? Hmm, it%26#39;s pretty, but not really outstanding. Mostly green and yellow. Remember we have lots and lots of evergreen trees--fir, hemlock, cedar, pine. The larches (tamarack) are interesting though when the needles turn yellow and drop off.

I may have never been to Oregon, but I do know that you Oregon posters completely ROCK!!!! I%26#39;ve been reading your posts on and off for months, which I%26#39;ve done with previous trips to parts unknown, and you guys are absolutely the best and most informative. Thanks...I know I%26#39;ll have lots more questions coming up in the weeks and months ahead and even an itinerary for ya%26#39;ll to shred.

Thanks for fall foilage info...after last years October vacation in Maine/NH/VT, I am glad you lowered my expectations :) as indeed that would have been difficult to live up to.

Half-brit, we found out about the air fare rate through clarkhoward.com (an Atlanta consumer advocate icon...now of CNN fame)who recently posted some Atlanta Travel deals...Air Tran started the price and Delta followed suit. One-way ATL-SEA was only $139 if you booked by 4/9 for trips taking place from 5/6 to 10/30 IF you fly on Sat, Tue, Wed. There are additonal fares for Mon/Thu/Fri and regular rates only for Sundays. A few dates around holidays were blacked out, of course.

Tommer, thanks for your kind words. It%26#39;s nice to know we are appreciated. :-)

Please do a Trip Report when you get home. We%26#39;ll be interested to know what you think of the Oregon Coast. I rate it #1 in the U.S., Maine is 2nd.

%26gt;%26gt; ...and even an itinerary for ya%26#39;ll to shred.%26lt;%26lt;

Hey now, we try to be gentle ;-)

Thanks for the flight $ info!

A bit late here, but yes, Sept is better weather and the foliage is nothing at all like what you find in the NE. I don%26#39;t even refer to it as foliage here after spending a few years living in the NE, lol.

BTW, you will probably really enjoy the drastic change in weather compared to GA. We lived in Kingsland for several years and boy was that a shock to us, lol.

Sept will still have higher rates, but fewer crowds. But honestly, things just are not that expensive here and you can always find good places at good rates, so don%26#39;t worry too much about that.

When you do have an itinerary, lots of us here have also lived in WA, and there are some current WA residents that post here, so you will get lots of info on that part of your trip here too.

Thanks for the compliment!! It is much appreciated!!